Introduction: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a B-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a major factor in B-cell development and activation. In this study we investigated serum BAFF levels in MG patients.
Methods: We compared the serum BAFF levels of 20 MG patients with gender-matched healthy controls. We assayed serum concentrations of BAFF and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR) titers.
Results: Serum BAFF levels of MG patients with AChR antibodies were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum BAFF levels and anti-AChR antibody titers. BAFF values did not correlate with disease severity.
Conclusions: BAFF may play a major role in the pathogenesis of MG, and it may provide a potential target for therapy in patients with MG. Muscle Nerve 54: 1030-1033, 2016.
Keywords: B-cell-activating factor; antibody; autoimmune; myasthenia gravis; pathogenesis; therapy.
© 2016 The Authors Muscle & Nerve Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.